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Abstract:

The present invention provides methods and systems for a bipolar
ionization device that includes an electrically insulated base, a power
input terminal, an anode engaged to the base and the power input
terminal, a cathode that partially circumscribes the anode, and plurality
of tines extending perpendicularly from the anode having a lower portion
and a top portion, wherein the lower portion is engaged to the anode and
is wider than the top portion.

Claims:

1. A bipolar ionization device, comprising: a base; a power input
terminal; an anode engaged to the base; and a cathode that partially
circumscribes the anode.

3. The bipolar ionization device of claim 1, wherein the power input
terminal engages a power supply.

4. The bipolar ionization device of claim 1, wherein the power input
terminal is threaded for engagement to corresponding threads of a power
supply.

5. The bipolar ionization device of claim 1, wherein the anode comprises
tines having a lower portion and a top portion, wherein the lower portion
is engaged to the anode and is wider than the top portion.

6. The bipolar ionization device of claim 1, wherein the cathode
circumscribes an angle of greater than 180.degree. of the anode.

7. A bipolar ionization device, comprising: an electrically insulated
base; a power input terminal; an anode engaged to the base and the power
input terminal; a cathode that partially circumscribes the anode; and a
plurality of tines extending perpendicularly from anode having a lower
portion and a top portion, wherein the lower portion is engaged to the
anode and is wider than the top portion.

8. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, wherein the anode has a top
portion and a bottom portion and the bottom portion is threaded and
serves as the power input terminal that is engaged to a power supply.

9. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, wherein the anode contains a
threaded portion and a correspondingly threaded nut is engaged to the
threaded portion for engaging the anode to the electrically insulated
base.

10. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, wherein the cathode
circumscribes an angle of greater than 180.degree. of the anode.

11. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, further comprising an
electrically insulated end cap that is positioned between the anode and
the cathode.

12. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, wherein the base consists
of a first portion and a second portion, whereby the first portion is
engaged to the anode and the cathode and has a threaded outer body
portion and the second portion has a threaded inner bore that engages the
threaded first portion for forming a selectively secured arrangement.

13. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, wherein the anode is
composed of a conductive, oxidation resistant material.

14. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, wherein the cathode is
composed of a conductive, oxidation resistant material.

15. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, further comprising a
grounding ring that is engaged to the base.

16. The bipolar ionization device of claim 7, further comprising a
grounding ring and a conducting wire having a first end and a second end,
wherein the first end is engaged to the grounding ring and the second end
is engaged to a bracket.

17. A method of ionizing air, comprising: providing bipolar ionization
device that comprises a base, a power input terminal, an anode engaged to
the base, and a cathode that partially circumscribes the anode;
connecting the power input terminal to a power supply; and placing the
bipolar ionization device in a stream of air.

18. The method of ionizing air of claim 17, further providing a plurality
of tines extending perpendicularly from anode having a lower portion and
a top portion, wherein the lower portion is engaged to the anode and is
wider than the top portion.

19. The method of ionizing air of claim 17, wherein the cathode
circumscribes an angle of greater than 180.degree. of the anode.

20. The method of ionizing air of claim 17, further comprising placing
the bipolar ionization device into an HVAC duct.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

[0001] The current application claims the benefit of the earlier priority
filing date of the provisional application, serial No. 61/485,178, that
was filed on May 12, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a bipolar ionization
device and more generally relates to a bipolar ionization device that
includes an anode that is partially circumscribed by a cathode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Current ionization tubes utilize a cathode that is completely
surrounded by a glass tube. The inside of the glass tube contains a wire
mesh that serves as an anode. Glass by its very nature has a fragile
structure and is prone to breaking The glass tube in an ionization tube
also produces a corona discharge, which minimizes the effect of the
ionization tube and increases the amount of energy consumed during
operation of ionization tube. The glass tube breaks down over time and
must be replaced by the user and the replacement cost for such a tube is
high. Additionally, the glass tube requires a voltage high enough to
break down the dielectric strength of the glass, and during the break
down process, a corona discharge is created, thus causing uncontrolled
and undesirable ozone.

[0004] For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0247389 discloses a
bipolar ionization tube that has a cathode that is completely surrounded
by a glass tube. An anode is provided that circumscribes the interior
wall of the glass tube.

[0005] There is a need for a bipolar ionization device that is not
breakable, eliminates the need for expensive replacement parts, saves
energy, provides higher output, and minimizes corona discharge

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is a bipolar ionization device that includes
a base, a power input terminal, an anode engaged to the base, and a
cathode that partially circumscribes the anode.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has an
electrically insulated base.

[0008] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has a power
input terminal that is engaged to a power supply.

[0009] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has a power
input terminal that is threaded for engagement to corresponding threads
of a power supply.

[0010] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has an anode
with tines that have a lower portion and a top portion, wherein the lower
portion is engaged to the anode and is wider than the top portion.

[0011] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has a cathode
that circumscribes an angle of greater than 180° with respect to
the anode.

[0012] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has an
electrically insulated base, a power input terminal, an anode engaged to
the base and the power input terminal, a cathode that partially
circumscribes the anode, and a plurality of tines extending
perpendicularly from the anode having a lower portion and a top portion,
wherein the lower portion is engaged to the anode and is wider than the
top portion.

[0013] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has an
electronically insulated end cap that is positioned between the anode and
the cathode.

[0014] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has a base
with a first portion and a second portion, whereby the first portion is
engaged to the anode and the cathode and has a threaded outer body
portion and the second portion has a threaded inner bore that engages the
threaded first portion for forming a selectively secured arrangement.

[0015] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has an anode
composed of brass.

[0016] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has a cathode
composed of stainless steel.

[0017] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has a
grounding ring engaged to the base.

[0018] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that has a
grounding ring and a conducting wire having a first end and a second end,
wherein the first end is engaged to the grounding ring and the second end
is engaged to a bracket.

[0019] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that is a method
of ionizing air that includes providing a bipolar ionization device that
comprises a base, a power input terminal, an anode engaged to the base,
and a cathode that partially circumscribes the anode, connecting the
power input terminal to a power supply, and placing the bipolar
ionization device in a stream of air.

[0020] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention includes a bipolar ionization device that includes
placing the bipolar ionization device into an HVAC duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention is illustrated and described herein with
reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote
like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:

[0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the bipolar
ionization device with a grounded bracket and wire; and

[0025]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the bipolar
ionization device that is engaged to a power supply with a grounded
biasing element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring now specifically to the drawings, a bipolar ionization
device is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is shown generally at
reference numeral 10. The bipolar ionization device 10 generally
comprises an electrically insulated base 12, an anode 14, a cathode 16,
and a power input terminal 18. The anode 14 is a generally cylindrical
tube that extends from the base 12. The cathode 16 is spaced-apart from
the anode 14 and partially circumscribes the anode 14. The power input
terminal 18 may be integral with the anode 14 or may be engaged to the
anode 14. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the power input terminal 18 extends
through the base 12 and extends a distance from the base 12 for engaging
to a power supply.

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the power input terminal 18 and the anode
14 are integral, meaning the power input terminal 18 is formed from the
anode 14. The power input terminal 18 has a top end and a bottom end and
contains threads for receiving corresponding threads of a high voltage
alternating current power supply 28 and forming a selectively secured
arrangement between the power input terminal 18 and the power supply 28.
In one exemplary embodiment, the power input terminal 18 is machined into
the bottom end of the anode 14. Preferably, this is done by turning the
end of the anode 14 on a lathe. The power input terminal 18, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, extends a distance away from the base 12 to allow
for connection to the power supply 28. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the
power input terminal 18 is screwed into the power supply 28 for
selectively securing the bipolar ionization device 10 to the power supply
28. The power supply 28 similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 4 can be
purchased from Bioclimatic, Plasma Air, Atmos Air, or Bentax. It should
be noted that alternatively, the power input terminal 18 may be a plug-in
or a stab-on type connector or the like.

[0028] The top end of the anode 14 contains a plurality of tines 20. The
tines 20 may be embedded into bores that are spaced along the axial
length of the top end of the anode 14. The times 20 contain a base and an
upper end. The base of the tines 20 is larger than the upper end.
Preferably, the upper end of each tine 20 has a point. In other words,
the tines 20 have a base that is embedded into a bore spaced along the
axial length of the top end of the anode 14 and the top end of the tines
20 forms a point. The diameter of the tines 20 from the base to the top
end gradually decreases until a point is formed. The tines 20 may be
composed of stainless steel, gold, titanium, brass, or any other
conductive, but oxidation resistant material.

[0029] The cathode 16 is annular in shape and is designed to partially
circumscribe the anode 14. The diameter of the cathode 16 is slightly
larger than the diameter of the anode 14, thus providing a spaced apart
relationship when the anode 14 is placed within the cathode 16. The term
partially circumscribes is intended to mean that the cathode 16 does not
fully encompass the anode 14. The cathode 16 has a first side and a
second side that are not engaged, but are spaced apart. In one
embodiment, the cathode 16 partially circumscribes the anode 14 at an
angle of greater than 180° with respect to the anode 14, but does
not circumscribe an angle of 360° with respect to the anode 14.tu

[0030] The base 12 may be any type of base 12 that retains the anode 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the base 12 contains a mounting base 22 and a
retention base 24. The mounting base 22 contains a bore 26 that extends
through the center of the mounting base 22. The bore 26 may be threaded
for receiving the correspondingly threaded bottom end of the anode 14.
Alternatively, the bore 26 contains no threads and allows the anode 14 to
extend there through uninhibited. A correspondingly threaded nut 42 may
be utilized to selectively secure the anode 14 to the base 12, and in
particular the mounting base 22 of the base 12. The mounting base 22
contains a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion of the
mounting base 22 is threaded and the inside of the retention base 24
contains corresponding threads for selectively securing the mounting base
22 to the retention base 24.

[0031] In one embodiment, a conductive ring 30 is engaged to the base 12
and is disposed between the power supply 28 and the retention base 24. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, the conductive ring 30 contains a metal bracket 32
that circumscribes the cathode 16. In an embodiment as illustrated in
FIG. 3, a grounding wire 34 having a first end and a second end is shown,
wherein the first end is engaged to the bracket 32 and the second end is
engaged to the conductive ring 30. The first end and the second end of
the grounding wire 34 contain a circular metallic lead with a central
bore, as shown in FIG. 3. The bracket 32 and conductive ring 30 each
contain a conductive screw that is received within the central bore of
the metallic lead on the first end and the second end of the grounding
wire 34. A correspondingly threaded nut is disposed on the screw for
retaining the grounding wire 34 to the conductive ring 30 and bracket 32.

[0032] In lieu of the conductive ring 30 and bracket 32, the power supply
28 may contain a grounded biasing element 40. The grounded biasing
element 40 has a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom
portion is engaged to the power supply 28 and the top portion is engaged
to the cathode 16, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0033] The top of the cathode 16 is retained in a spaced-apart
relationship to the anode 14 with a spacer 36. The spacer 36 may be
composed of rubber or another electrically insulated material. That
spacer 36 comprises a circular body with a raised shelf at one end. The
spacer 36 also contains a hollow bore extending through the center of the
spacer 36. The hollow bore of the spacer 36 has a diameter slightly
larger than the diameter of the anode 14 for receiving the upper portion
of the anode 14 into the hollow bore. The circular body of the spacer 36
has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the cathode 16,
allowing the cathode 16 to fit around the circular body of the spacer 36.
The spacer 36 is designed to receive a retention pin 38 that is received
within the upper portion of the hollow bore of the spacer 36 and
selectively secures the anode 14 to the spacer 36.

[0034] The anode 14 may be composed of any material that can conduct
electricity. In one embodiment of the present invention, the anode 14 may
be composed of brass or any other conductive, oxidation resistant
material. The tines 20 can also be manufactured out of any material that
conducts electricity, but in one embodiment the tines 20 are manufactured
out of tungsten or stainless steel. The cathode 16 may be manufactured
from stainless steel or any other conductive, oxidation resistant
material. It should be noted that the cathode 16 and anode 14 may be of
various sizes depending upon the uses and desires of the user and the
size of the HVAC duct that bipolar ionization device 10 will be inserted.

[0035] In one use, the bipolar ionization device 10 may be installed in a
heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) duct. The bipolar
ionization device 10 is engaged to a power supply 28 and the bipolar
ionization device 10 is inserted into a duct so that the air flows
perpendicular to longitudinal length of the tines 20 on the anode 14. In
other words, bipolar ionization device 10 should be positioned such that
the tines 20 are upright in relation to the air flow and the air flow is
able to flow between the tines 20.

[0036] During use, the power supply 28 supplies power to the power input
terminal 18, and the electrons flow along the length of the anode 14. As
the electrons progress upwards from the power input terminal 18 along the
anode 14, the electrons contact the tines 20 and flow up the tines 20
from the base to the pointed upper end. When the electrons reach the
pointed upper end of the tine 20, the electrons flow from the pointed
upper end of the tine 20 of the anode 14 to the cathode 16 that partially
circumscribes the anode 14. Not all of the electrons that flow from the
anode 14 are collected by the cathode 16. Instead, the electrons that are
not collected by the cathode 16 flow into the surrounding area and
collide with air molecules and particles in the air stream, thus ionizing
the air molecules and particles. The ionization of the air aids in
cleaning the air, removing odors, and helps reduce pollutants.

[0037] The present invention is an advancement over prior art bipolar
ionization tubes in that the present invention saves energy, minimizes
corona discharge, eliminates costly replacement parts, and is not fragile
or easily breakable.

[0038] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described
herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples
thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions
and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples
are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended
to be covered by the following claims.